This edition of Simpson: The Magazine highlights graduates who are fulfilling the mission of Simpson College abroad. I hope you are inspired by and enjoy reading about their adventures, appreciating how their educational journeys at Simpson prepared them to lead lives of meaning and purpose.
Our mission is the foundation of everything we do at Simpson. Through it we created the platforms for our “Transform Lives to Transform the World” strategic plan that has guided us during my three years as president. The strategic momentum we have established includes the introduction of new curricular and cocurricular opportunities, numerous facility enhancements, and the addition of support services to ensure student success. I am grateful for the creativity of the Simpson community in moving initiatives forward through each iteration of the process. The work being done today will impact students for generations to come.
As I complete my service as president this summer, I look forward to continuing to read about Simpson’s amazing alumni and stellar students who are dedicated to making a world of difference. I
have seen how their roads to distinctive excellence have been paved by remarkable faculty and staff mentors who are personally invested in their success. What a privilege it’s been for me to be part of it all; I will forever treasure our ONESimpson community.
I take heart knowing that our graduates will always be exemplars of John Wesley’s wise instruction to, “Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in every place you can, at all the times you can, with all the zeal you can, as long as ever you can.” And as I watch all the great Simpson stories unfold, I’ll be beaming with pride.
Thank you for the honor of serving as your president. It has been a true joy!
Kind regards,
“It has been a privilege to work for my alma mater for so many years,” said Lane. “I’ll always be grateful to those who have made Simpson what it is today. From the leadership on the Board of Trustees to the alumni who have been so supportive of the college, I owe a debt of gratitude for their generous and genuine spirit in making Simpson all it can be.”
As a first-generation college student, Lane set off for Simpson from Marion, Iowa. A generous scholarship helped defray his college costs, a gift that fueled a driving force in his life’s work — ensuring that other students received the same support and opportunity that he did.
As a sophomore, Lane met the love of his life, Becky Oswald ’82, while planning a campus social event. The rest, as they say, is history. Preparing to celebrate their 40th anniversary in June, the Lanes are mainstays in the Indianola community. Their children, Allison Lane Whitney ’10 and Ryan Lane ’13, are also proud Simpson alumni.
“I am so blessed to have met Becky at Simpson, and to have had Simpson play such an important role in the education of our family. This place has been such a special gift to us.”
At the same time, Lane has given so much to Simpson. In 1982, he served as an admissions counselor at the College, as well as an assistant coach for both football and golf at Simpson. He left the College briefly in 1984 to pursue a sales management position with Pepsi in Arizona. But a year later, Lane eagerly returned to Simpson to begin his career in advancement work.
In 1993, he became the executive director of Advancement at Cornell College for two years, before his appointment as vice president for College Advancement at Illinois College. Lane returned to his Simpson home for good in 2007, taking on the role of vice president for Advancement. Lane took on the huge role of interim president in 2020, leading the college through the unprecedented challenges created by COVID.
Lane says he is now looking forward to spending more time with his grandchildren and family, playing golf, and cycling. You can also bet he will remain a fixture on Simpson’s campus — taking in all the big events and rooting on the Storm.
“I will miss my co-workers and the many people I have come to know over the years,” said Lane. “I have been fortunate to work with some wonderful colleagues and mentors, as well as make some longtime friendships with so many kindhearted people.”
In honor of Lane’s service to Simpson College, members of the Board of Trustees, as well as his friends and colleagues, have established The Lane Family Scholarship Fund. To make a gift in Lane’s honor, visit simpson.edu/give and select “other” as designation and input Lane Family Scholarship in the text box or send check made payable to Simpson College to Simpson College Advancement, 701 N C Street, Indianola, IA 50125. Be sure to reference “Lane Family Scholarship” in the memo line.
After 26 years of distinguished service to Simpson College, Bob Lane ’81 will retire in June. His profound impact as a student, vice-president for Advancement, and interim president place him among the College’s giants who have given their hearts to the red and gold.
"I have been fortunate to work with some wonderful colleagues and mentors, as well as make some longtime friendships with so many kindhearted people."
- BOB LANE ’81
We learned many things throughout the pandemic. We learned that technology extends our reach beyond Iowa and a handful of cities throughout the nation. Lecture series like Legends of Simpson (simpson. edu/legendsofsimpson) featuring some of Simpson’s most well-known retired faculty and staff were born. Alumni affinity groups began reconnecting via Zoom, Alumni Association Board of Directors committee meetings went online, and Alumni Mentoring partners connected from time zones away.
But we also learned that nothing will ever replace the importance of faceto-face reconnection. The Alumni Association is excited to spearhead a new initiative – Simpson Alumni Meetups. These casual happy hour style gatherings, hosted by alumni volunteers, will bring additional opportunities to alumni throughout the nation to connect with fellow alumni in person.
June 29 – Simpson Night @ Jasper Winery Summer Concert Series Featuring The Nadas
July 10 – Simpson Happy Hour @ Iowa Distilling Company with music from Mike Tiedeman ’04
Flaunt the Red & Gold by sporting the newest gear from the reimagined Simpson College Spirit Shop. Now owned and operated by Simpson College, the Spirit Shop boasts a much larger variety of clothing, accessories and collectibles.
Purchase online now at www.simpsonspiritshop.com and receive 15% off your order of $50 or more with code SC1860. This offer expires June 30, 2023. All orders are tax free.
With successful meetups already held in Columbus, Ohio, and St. Louis, Missouri, and plans in place for meetups in Kansas City, Washington D.C., Denver and more, we extend the invitation to you to be a volunteer host of a meetup in your region! To learn more, contact director of Alumni Relations Andy English at andy.english@simpson.edu.
These are just a few of the opportunities to gather with fellow alumni and friends of Simpson this summer in Des Moines! Visit simpson.edu/alumni-and-giving/ events for a full list of upcoming events, more information and to register. Updates will be made periodically throughout the summer with additional local and regional events.
July 21 – Simpson Night @ the Iowa Cubs | Tailgate and Ballgame
August 12 – Simpson Day at the Iowa State Fair | Meetup at Stockman’s Inn
Preparing for worst-case scenarios is a way of life for Dio Ayala '07/'11. He’s been on the front lines for everything from devastating tornadoes to unfathomable acts of terror. The things that no one else wants to think about consumes his thoughts.
As director of the Madison County Emergency Management & Homeland Security Agency, he most recently played a leading role in managing recovery efforts following the EF4 tornado that killed six people in Winterset, Iowa — just 30 minutes west of Simpson College — on March 5, 2022.
“I’m not the same person I was before that day,” he says. “Our community is still trying to heal.”
Responding to a deputy’s call for help, Ayala raced to Carver Road, where he encountered destroyed homes and disturbing scenes. He saw a man fatally buried under the debris of his home, before being called a quarter mile up the road to another ravaged home, where a woman lost her life.
Her husband had been thrown out of the other side of his house, clinging to life. Ayala knew he had to act quickly.
“I had to make a split-second decision,” said Ayala. “I knew it was going to take a while for the ambulance to get there, so I made my way through the debris and, put him in my car and raced to the hospital.” Doctors were able to stabilize the man, and he survived.
Those traumatic minutes and hours gave way to days and months of grueling clean-up and restoration work. Over the next 90 days, Ayala led the coordination of more than 1,000
volunteers participating in recovery efforts while also serving as media spokesperson for the county.
“You can create plans, but you also have to be very adaptive. Because if you had told me we’re going to create a scenario featuring a fatal tornado, car chase, propane leak all on the same day, I would have said, ‘Come on, that’s too much.’”
For Ayala, it’s not the first time tragedy has hit home. As a high schooler in the Bronx, NY, he was near the 1993 bombing of the Twin Towers. Eight years later he was in New Jersey working for Verizon, when 9/11 forever changed the world. Serving as a network operations center surveillance technician at the time, he was part of a team bringing in equipment and people to help with the recovery effort.
“It really changed my perspective and had me wondering how we can prevent it from happening again,” the U.S. Navy vet said. “So, when I was asked to lead a recovery team, I jumped on it. And I’ve been in the disaster recovery realm pretty much ever since that time.”
Inspired by his Simpson education, Ayala served as adjunct instructor in criminal justice at the college for five years. During that time, he collaborated in creating a cybercrime course.
Cybercrime is just one of many dangers Ayala must prepare for in his new role. He remains ever vigilant about protecting schools and critical infrastructures such as water and power systems, as well as providing security for government buildings and public events.
“I talk about it all the time with the public and I use social media a lot to keep people informed. We all have to realize that these things really can happen anywhere.”
Four years after 9/11, Ayala’s interest in criminal justice brought him to Simpson College, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the field. He is grateful for Simpson’s professors, who helped him manage the work-education-life balance.
“If I didn’t have that (Simpson) education, I wouldn’t have the job I have today. You can lose a job, you can lose a lot of things — but your education will always follow you. I always tell people that now is the time to do it. Why wait?”
Knowing that Ayala is staying on top of all threats is surely comforting to his new community neighbors who leaned heavily on his leadership during tornado recovery efforts. The Red Cross celebrated his life-saving actions last spring by honoring him with its “Hero of the Heartland Award.”
Ayala says he’s humbled by all the kind recognition, but his work isn’t about the accolades. “I just want to help people and make sure they’re okay.” Learn
"If I didn’t have that education, I wouldn’t have the job I have today. You can lose a job, you can lose a lot of things — but your education will always follow you."
- DIOGENES “DIO” AYALA ’07Ayala served as the chief media spokesperson for Madison County recovery efforts following an EF4 tornado that ripped through Winterset in March 2022.
Mark Brodie was at home grading papers when he suddenly couldn't gather his thoughts. He wasn't sure what was happening, but he knew something was wrong and called out to Carolyn. When she came upstairs, Carolyn knew something was seriously wrong and he told her to call 911. When they reached the hospital, a series of tests showed Mark was having a stroke. As an immediate result, he was unable to speak.
Mark was experiencing two different conditions, aphasia and apraxia. Aphasia is the loss of the ability to understand or express speech. Mark described struggling with aphasia when he was asked to name animals, "I could think in my mind, 'oh there is cat and there is dog,' but then I couldn't really think of any other animals," said Mark.
He was also suffering “apraxia of speech.” Mark described this as being able to think the word he wanted to say in his head, but his brain just couldn't make his mouth say it out loud. Doctors told Mark and Carolyn that improvement could come daily, but it would be more noticeable over the coming months. After four days of inpatient therapy, Mark had already managed to utter a few words.
Though regaining his speech was the top priority, Mark was ready to work on some of his other abilities. "A lot of my other skills had been destroyed. Typing, spelling, my ability to do math and my ability to do programming had been affected," said Mark. So, with his language quickly recovering, Mark was on the lookout for a coding project to help him retrieve his skills.
In an early therapy session, one of Mark's therapists mentioned that teaching patients how to manage their finances again is a common activity they do with those recovering from a
brain injury. Following that, a visiting therapist spontaneously mentioned to Mark her need for an online banking app to use for therapy. At the time, Mark filed this idea away as he focused on his own recovery. But once he completed his therapy in May of 2020, he and Carolyn were ready to get to work.
Mark and Carolyn reached out to therapist
students
Lisa Raymond, who had initially prompted their banking app idea. "We ended up staying in contact with her and inviting her to lunch. The app came up in conversation there, in this informal non-professional setting," said Carolyn. Near the beginning of June, the Brodies reached out again to see if they could discuss further. Raymond was happy to help.
The app-building process began with Mark and Carolyn asking Raymond what she needed for an effective banking app. Over the next few months, Mark and Carolyn wrote and implemented code one bit at a time, and the day soon came when the app was ready for installation. In February 2021, Lisa began using Mark and Carolyn's app with actual patients. She has since shared the app with her coworkers, who also use it for therapy.
In reflecting on Mark's recovery and the app-building process, Mark and Carolyn say none of it would have been possible without the incredible support they received from the Simpson community. "People were doing things to help us from day one. Whatever we needed," said Carolyn. "Faculty in our department stepped up and took on our classes. Staff, students and faculty sent cards. And it seemed like we were getting food to our home every day," added Mark.
Today, Mark and Carolyn remain faculty fixtures at Simpson, preparing the next generation of computer scientists to not just crack codes, but to program with purpose.
When Simpson Computer Science Professor Mark Brodie suffered a stroke in 2019, he couldn't imagine that it would spark one of his most important coding projects. Inspired by what he learned during his rehabilitation process, Brodie and his wife, Carolyn — also a Simpson computer science faculty member — partnered to create an app to help other stroke survivors.
"Faculty in our department stepped up and took on our classes. Staff,
and faculty sent cards. And it seemed like we were getting food to our home every day."
- MARK BRODIE
Colfax, Iowa
Lead Purchasing Analytics & Steering
Volkswagen AG-CARIAD (Porsche)
Stuttgart, Germany
Logo Credits:
Porsche: pixelliebe - stock.adobe.com
Adidas: frrlbt - stock.adobe.com
Department of State: UKRAINIAN - stock.adobe.com
ISHAYA
President Dreams Alive Nigeria, Africa
You can find Simpson College alumni making their mark in more than 25 countries — from Argentina to Australia and Sweden to Sri Lanka. As you trek through the pages that follow, you’ll meet five fascinating alumni who are taking the world by storm.
Two Simpson alums are sporting fast-paced supply chain management careers at Adidas and Porsche, in Germany; another is making points as a public relations leader in South Africa; and another is growing his Nigerian non-profit organization to battle HIV/AIDS while flourishing as a pharmacist in Iowa.
Finally, you’ll get to know “Globally Colbee,” a 2023 graduate poised to leverage semesters abroad in Spain and the United Arab Emirates — along with 10, yes 10, internships — to pursue a career in international diplomacy.
See how Simpson prepared them to achieve more than they could imagine.
She’s held various leadership roles in supply chain management over the last eight years at Adidas, where she currently serves as director of tech consultancy. Upreti leads four teams totaling 24 people in four countries — Colombia, India, Portugal, and at Adidas’ world headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany.
“It’s a learning journey,” said Upreti. “Together we function as a team of builders — responsible for creating the system that enables the flow of goods around the world.”
Upreti’s teams ensure that Adidas products move through the many layers of the supply chain accurately, efficiently and at the speed of light expected by today’s consumers. The widely differing preferences of a global customer base and unpredictable kinks — or breaks — in the chain require them to be strategically proactive planners and agile problem solvers.
Managing global logistics is an especially daunting role at Adidas, which sells more than 375 million units of
Mountaineer, marathoner and prolific problem solver Shristi Upreti ’05 is always up for a new challenge. The math graduate from Nepal uses her competitive spirit and unquenchable curiosity to help Adidas stay ahead of the game as the second-largest sportswear manufacturer in the world.
SHRISTI UPRETI ’05
GERMANY
"What I really liked about Simpson was adapting liberal arts learning to serving others. It helped with my leadership and learning to work with people of different backgrounds."
- SHRISTI UPRETI '05
sportswear and nearly 350 million pairs of shoes each year. Add in a global pandemic and the work seems virtually impossible. But Upreti says the unprecedented challenges of COVID came with a silver lining.
“The positive aspect of COVID is that it forced us to collaborate better across geographies. Before, team members were working more in silos. During the pandemic, instead of waiting for in-person meetings, we learned how to connect and create bonds virtually. That took a lot of effort, but now it’s paying off.”
The pandemic also prompted Upreti to adjust her leadership style. Instead of employing her “hunter’s instinct” to find big opportunities and projects to bring in, she says she adopted more of a methodical Midwest mindset.
“Being assigned to grow my team, I had to take a step back and put in the farmers’ mentality. In Iowa, people prepare the land, sow the seeds, and let them grow — even as they are susceptible to the changes that happen outside of their control. I’m trying to do that with my teams at Adidas — that’s been the big shift for me.”
Upreti is quick to credit her Simpson liberal arts education for giving her the critical thinking, problem-solving and leadership skills to thrive in any situation. She honed those abilities participating in The Mathematical Contest in Modeling and doing a Maytag Innovation summer research project on global warming.
She was also involved in Model United Nations and served as president of Simpson College’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity, where she helped lead fundraising efforts to build a home for a Nepal family in need.
The sum impact of her academic and cocurricular pursuits made her Simpson education especially rewarding.
“What I really liked about Simpson was adapting liberal arts learning to serving others. What stood out for me was my senior interdisciplinary research project that focused on community applications. It helped with my leadership and learning to work with people of different backgrounds.”
Though she didn’t participate in varsity sports, Simpson is also where Upreti became a dedicated runner and proficient swimmer — thanks to a course taught by women’s basketball coach Brian Niemuth. Those early laps in the pool and on the track helped fuel her growing passion for sports that have “made a difference in my life, because they’ve enabled me to connect with people.”
Even when she’s not moving goods around the world for Adidas, Upreti is still always on the go. She’s completed three marathons and several half marathons while also finding time for rock climbing and mountaineering.
After Simpson, Upreti made quick career connections, holding a pair of consulting assignments in Minneapolis, before taking a position with a start-up company in Providence, R.I. There she engaged in employing advanced analytics for inventory demand planning with major U.S. retailers.
“That’s where all the science of supply chain management and technology really started coming together for me,” said Upreti.
In 2010, Upreti moved to Germany to pursue personal interests and postgraduate studies in economathematics at the University of Gottingen. She stayed in Germany, picking up her career at Puma for four years before making the leap to Adidas.
She says the sporting industry giants have helped her develop an athlete’s approach to helping her teams consistently excel. “We have a goal as a team to achieve something. Then we come up with a plan and stick to the plan to achieve it. And that gives us a satisfying sense of belonging together.”
For Upreti, building great teams begins with knowing the importance of giving people a chance to show what they can do.
“I had the chance to get my education in the U.S. and that opened the door for me. There are people with great minds all over the world who just need an opportunity. I try to make inclusive hiring decisions and provide an even playing field. And then it’s exciting to see them grow.”
No matter where Germany’s Jan Spreitzenbarth ’11 travels, you will always find him at the intersection of global supply chain management and mind-blowing technology.
Spreitzenbarth has driven his way to increasingly fascinating roles in logistics, information technology and procurement. He’s logged most of his miles in the automotive industry working for The Volkswagen Group (VW Group) in Germany.
“I’ve always felt I am good at coordinating different people and tasks,” said Spreitzenbarth. “I enjoy environments where great ideas merge to form something new and exciting.”
After graduating from Simpson, Spreitzenbarth got his career rolling back in Germany as a logistics planner for Robert Bosch before becoming a procurement project manager working on smart metering projects for IBM.
Then, after earning his master’s degree in industrial engineering from Germany’s Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, he ventured to China as a Postgraduate Fellow of the German Academic Exchange Service. There he also served as a short-term consultant for a Chinese client focused on modernizing global factory connections.
In 2016, Spreitzenbarth returned to Germany, moving into the fast lane with Porsche AG as a partner manager in smart mobility.
“I was part of a team that developed Porsche’s entertainment system — everything that’s cool and fun in the car. Those projects included being involved in managing the partnership between Porsche and Apple for the Apple Music integration system.”
Later he served as Porsche’s lead buyer for the various software applications integrated for use in controlling vehicle motion and energy — basically all the automated and smart features of a car.
Spreitzenbarth changed gears in 2020, when the VW Group founded CARIAD — an enterprise start-up created to develop a single software company connecting all 12 VW Group brands with a shared digital ecosystem. He was called on to embrace the daunting challenge of building up CARIAD’s new purchasing team to support several thousand employees.
“We managed an external annual spend of more than €2 billion (Euros) with a team of only eight people,” said Spreitzenbarth. “We had to move quickly setting up processes, tools, and platforms. I was proud to be part of that endeavor.”
Two years into the effort, once the teams were fully up to speed, the VW Group granted Spreitzenbarth a one-year sabbatical to complete his doctorate at the University of Mannheim in Germany. To that end, he spent the last year as a Visiting Fellow at the MIT Sloan School of Management deepening his extensive research on the value of artificial intelligence technologies in purchasing and supply management.
Spreitzenbarth’s relentless hunger for learning and engaging other cultures and languages (he speaks five) is tied to his lifelong desire to challenge himself and expand his horizons.
“Growing up in a small town felt sort of limiting in the way people think and act. I wanted to have more in life and achieve something; I wanted to see the world.” His first chance to do that, he says, came during a Voluntary Social Year in China shortly after high school. “I met so many interesting people and learned about different ways to live; I was fascinated by it.”
Following his service in China and graduation from a two-year program at Technische Oberschule Stuttgart, Spreitzenbarth made his way to Simpson in 2009 — something that had been on his heart for more than a decade.
He learned about Simpson when he was just 10 years old, when his parents served as a host family for Maggie Priebe Johnston ’03 during her semester abroad in Germany. “Maggie told me all about Iowa and Simpson College when she was living with us. So, when I reached college age, I knew I wanted to go to there.”
Spreitzenbarth spent a lot of his Simspon tenure enjoying hospitality from Maggie’s parents, Shelly Kirby Priebe ’74 and Greg Priebe ’72 — and the families remain closely connected today. He left Simpson in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in international management — and so much more.
“Finding who I am really started at Simpson. The learning environment was open and encouraging, and the faculty pushed me to try different things.”
Anticipating his return to CARIAD, Spreitzenbarth expects more big things ahead. “I’ve still got a lot of dreams out there. I’m eager to put more of my research on artificial intelligence into practice with real world applications. The possibilities are beyond exciting.”
"Finding who I am really started at Simpson. The learning environment was open and encouraging, and the faculty pushed me to try different things.”
- JAN SPREITZENBARTH ’11
Vista Kalipa ’04 is dedicated to delivering stories that sell. As owner of OnPoint Public Relations in his native South Africa, he helps organizations and businesses gain public prominence and trust. It starts with creating credibility for his own brand.
“You have no room for error when you call yourself ‘OnPoint,’” said Kalipa. “I put even more pressure on our business by boasting a tagline that states, ‘We take you from a mention to a headline.’”
As co-founder of OnPoint, Kalipa leads an agency of 12 team members in Johannesburg and Cape Town — servicing local, pan-African and global brands. Its diverse client portfolio features financial service companies like AmEx, sporting agencies brands and major consumer brands such as Unilever and PepsiCo.
While OnPoint provides all the services of a traditional agency, Kalipa says his personal portfolio focuses largely on producing positive media placements for his clients.
“I like building relationships with media and getting to understand what makes them tick. I especially enjoy brainstorming with my team to come up with story angles that will make media contacts happy, as well as my clients.”
Kalipa says his studies at Simpson inspired his PR dreams. But it was his music talent that first brought him to Iowa. It all started when Iowa’s iconic international opera star Simon Estes visited his high school in Cape Town and heard him sing with his school choir.
“He promised to return within a year and take some of us to experience life in Iowa for a year. And I was fortunate enough to ultimately be chosen for that opportunity.”
Kalipa spent a year with a host family in West Des Moines attending Waukee High School, where he participated in allstate choir. After returning briefly to South Africa, he started considering colleges located near his American host family.
He chose Simpson to pursue his love of opera, after successfully auditioning for a music scholarship. But he found so much more than music.
“I had never been exposed to liberal arts education. I applaud it, because experiencing all the various disciplines opened a lot of different things, including exciting career options I could pursue.”
Encouraged by mentoring faculty, Kalipa decided to complement his music major with a second major in mass communication and journalism. Those studies and experiences working with the Des Moines Metropolitan Opera and Simpson’s marketing and communications office fueled his fire for a career in PR.
After earning his master’s at LSU, he returned to South Africa in 2006. There he landed a position as a media liaison for a Cape Town non-profit before jetting to Johannesburg for various PR roles with a full-service agency there.
In 2010, Kalipa leveraged his experience and extensive networking connections to open his own firm with a pair of partners. And from that moment, his firm has been navigating constant change.
“You have to be able to adapt, because if you get stuck in one way of doing things, it’s easy to get left behind. It’s vital to understand the changes that are happening within your industry and how to apply those changes for the good of the brands you represent.”
The digital communications revolution has offered both exciting opportunities and significant PR challenges — such as the rise of citizen journalism.
“People nowadays are quick with their phones to create a narrative based only on what they see,” said Kalipa. “So, I have to quiet the storm. And because I’ve built relationships with the media, they trust what comes from me is reliable and I’m not just feeding them propaganda.”
Of course, Kalipa is concerned about much more than protecting and promoting the brand image of for-profit corporate clients. He has a heart for helping non-profit causes spread their story.
Kalipa’s firm recently completed multiple campaigns for the South African Book Development Council to promote literacy. Today, OnPoint provides public relations support to the Global Citizen movement, as well as the Global Citizen Fellowship Program. That effort is supported by Beyonce’s BeyGOOD philanthropic initiatives designed to eliminate extreme poverty by 2030.
“I’m passionate about these things because I know the impact they have and what they can do for a country like mine,” said Kalipa.
Kalipa’s love for serving his home country is strong, but he will also always be grateful for the time in Iowa that helped shape who he is today.
“It taught me so many different values and ways of living and dealing with people. I will never forget the quality of life I enjoyed in the Midwest and the education I received from Simpson.”
"I had never been exposed to liberal arts education.
I applaud it, because experiencing all the various disciplines opened a lot of different things, including exciting career options I could pursue.”
- VISTA KALIPA ’04
Fighting HIV/AIDS has been a heart-tugging calling for Ishaya David ’17 since he was a teenager in his native Nigeria. Today, the Quad Cities UnityPoint pharmacist continues his quest to improve the healthcare and well-being of African youth as president of the NGO Dreams Alive. But with more than 6,000 miles separating his career from his life’s passion, it’s a considerable challenge to manage both priorities.
David’s older brother founded Dreams Alive in 2006, when David was 15. He tagged along as his brother and his friends staged HIV/AIDS educational and support programs throughout Nigeria. David had no idea that all too soon he would assume his brother’s leadership role.
In 2012, David lost his brother to sickle cell anemia. In his grief, he knew it was up to him to keep Dreams Alive going.
quickly assumed the role of Dreams Alive president. “I followed in his footsteps trying to maintain what he and his friends started. And then we added substance abuse education and helping addicts get connected with rehabilitation centers.”
UMC Leads David to Simpson
As David prepared to grow the impact of Dreams Alive, he was also focused on his own educational dreams. His journey to Simpson is largely due to the innovative efforts of United Methodist Church Bishop Julius Trimble and his former assistant the Rev. Bob Burkhart.
In 2008, Bishop Trimble and Rev. Burkhart created an arrangement to bring one new Nigerian student each year to Iowa’s United Methodist-affiliated colleges. The Iowa Conference provided financial support and its United Methodist partners in Nigeria were enthusiastically invested in securing students. Participating colleges covered most tuition expenses.
In 2013, David became the first Nigerian to attend Simpson College with a full-tuition scholarship to study biochemistry. The lifelong Nigerian Methodist felt especially blessed to receive such a God-sent opportunity.
“God has a plan for everything. It was just meant to be and exactly what I needed.”
“I just took it upon myself to continue it,” said David, who
At Simpson, David excelled academically and fully immersed himself in campus life. He was involved in student government all four years, including two years as Class president. Other
highlights included participating in conferences sponsored by the United Methodist Church to empower and develop leaders.
“Those opportunities helped me develop my faith and learn more about my relationship with God. I learned what it means to think about your neighbor’s needs and to make sure you are fair and equitable to everyone.”
Great relationships formed at Simpson included meeting one of his best friends, Robert Lyons ’17. In partnership with a local rotary club chapter, David and Lyons led a fundraising effort that yielded $1,200 to purchase books for students in Africa. David had the thrill of presenting the books to schoolchildren when he went home for summer break in 2015.
Returning in the fall for his junior year, David eagerly anticipated more great things ahead. But just two months into the semester, he received a devastating birthday phone call with news that he had lost another brother — this time to a horrific murder.
The Simpson community quickly rallied around him. A student-led GoFundMe campaign raised more than $2,000 in 14 hours — enough to fly David home and eventually back to Simpson to resume his studies.
David says the incredible outpouring of love in his time of need stands out among many Simpson experiences that fueled him forward.
“Simpson laid the foundation for everything. It helped me in the transition phase between who I was in Nigeria and who I am becoming here. From doing research with my professors to fully engaging in campus life, the opportunities I had at Simpson were transformational.”
David went on to earn his master’s in Public Health and a doctorate in pharmacy from the University of Iowa. Yet even while enjoying a thriving pharmaceutical career, his heart is always with Dreams Alive.
Since coming to Iowa, he’s returned to Nigeria three times to lead a variety of projects, such as providing health education in schools, offering HIV test kits and counseling, and distributing condoms. Each time he goes back, David says he is re-energized.
He fondly recalls a woman from his parents’ home village in Filiya stopping him on the street to thank him for providing the type of education that has been missing for generations. “‘I’m so proud of you,’” she told me. “‘My son came home and was asking all these questions. I’ve always felt like my child is to the age where I should probably have the talk with them. But I never did. I never got the education (you’re providing) and neither did my grandparents.’”
Gaining support from doctors, local governments and teams of enthusiastic volunteers, David’s work has often involved making multiple trips from the heart of the city to remote rural villages. The experiences are exhausting yet exhilarating.
He hopes that one day he can turn his part-time passion into a fulltime way of life. “I never get tired of doing it. I’ve found something I absolutely love doing and it’s making an impact.”
"Simpson laid the foundation for everything. It helped me in the transition phase between who I was in Nigeria and who I am becoming here. From doing research with my professors to fully engaging in campus life, the opportunities I had at Simpson were transformational."
- ISHAYA DAVID ’17
"Get out of your comfort zone and push yourself beyond your boundaries because you’re stronger than you think. Travel the world, make mistakes and you’ll come back stronger — I promise.”
Growing up in a rural Iowa community of 2000 people, Colbee Cunningham ’23 says she didn’t really have a lot of opportunities to explore the world. But at Simpson College she put together an amazing global portfolio — accomplishing more in eight semesters than even seems possible. She’s thousands of miles ahead of the pack in pursuing her career dreams.
“If you would have told me four years ago that I would graduate from Simpson with three majors, having studied abroad twice and having completed 10 internships plus fellowships, I would have never believed you,” said Cunningham. “It’s kind of crazy, but I didn’t do it alone.”
On her first visit to campus as a prospective student, Cunningham says faculty in Simpson’s multimedia communication department instilled her with confidence that she could achieve most anything.
“I met with Brian Steffen and told him I wanted to combine my passion for international relations and journalism to become an international news correspondent. And instead of laughing at me like others had done, he said, ‘Okay, let’s make it happen.’ From that day on, I knew Simpson was the place where I could make even my wildest of dreams happen.”
She has since tweaked the focus of her career dreams, but Cunningham says the journalism skills gained at Simpson are applicable to everything she’s done and will do. Indeed,
her degree in international relations, multimedia journalism and Spanish is grounded in one-of-a-kind, real-world experiences that have opened many doors.
Those opened doors included a virtual year-long traineeship with the Global Ties U.S. Emerging Leaders program, Cunningham was among 20 students selected nationwide who all aspire to pursue careers in public diplomacy and international affairs. She was also just one of 20 students to get an inside view of foreign affairs as a Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Scholar participating in a six-week program at the U.S. Department of State and Howard University in Washington D.C.
“It was one of the most impactful experiences I’ve ever had. I met people from all over the country and diverse walks of life. We were all united by our interest in foreign policy and how to leverage it to make the world a better place.”
Sandwiched in between those incredible learning opportunities were a pair of study abroad adventures for Cunningham, which she chronicled in her blog, “Globally Colbee.” She spent one semester at the University of Granada in Spain, where her deep language and cultural immersion featured a volunteer role as a Spanish language teaching assistant for immigrants and refugees.
Her other semester abroad was at the American University in Dubai, receiving full tuition support as a William Jefferson Clinton Scholar. During that experience, Cunningham had the chance to get some real-time mentoring during an inperson visit with Brandon Hyde ’12, who serves as an assistant principal at the American Creativity Academy in Kuwait. It’s all part of a student-alumni networking program established by Simpson’s Office of Alumni Relations.
“It’s nice to have another globally minded individual to bounce ideas off,” said Cunningham. “Just seeing everything he’s done
— he’s lived in Mexico, Italy and now Kuwait —shows that someone from Simpson can make that happen. And knowing that I have the potential to do that, too, is awesome.”
When she wasn’t studying around the globe or gaining world-class career preparation through prestigious national programs, Cunningham also found time to take advantage of opportunities close to home. Her resume includes internships with the Iowa United Nations Association, Iowa International Center and the City of Des Moines.
She also savored life on campus — making great friends, working for Simpson student media, and encouraging others to be engaged global citizens. Most importantly, Cunningham says, her advice for any current or future Simpson student is to get moving.
“Get out of your comfort zone and push yourself beyond your boundaries because you’re stronger than you think. Travel the world, make mistakes and you’ll come back stronger — I promise.”
On the strength of her stellar Simpson resume, Cunningham ultimately desires a career as a U.S. diplomat. Next fall, she will be a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Colombia. For now, she just wants to catch her breath.
“My time at Simpson has been a whirlwind, in the best way possible. First-year Colbee was not the same person I am today. I’ve learned a lot, but I’ve gained more confidence than anything. I know now that I can do anything I put my mind to.”
While studying at the University of Granada, Cunningham’s many adventures in Spain included a visit
Simpson’s branded bus earned the 2022 Des Moines Biggest Impact Award —recently presented by Adsposure, The Transit Advertising People. The honor recognizes top advertising campaigns across the country that “best represent how to use transit to spread a message and reach people.”
This spring, Simpson faculty, staff and students took part in the March to End “Isms.” The event brought awareness to societal issues surrounding various “isms” such as racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, class-isms and size-isms. Spoken word artist Caleb Rainey was the keynote speaker.
Simpson was one of nine regional winners, as voted on by the public in March 2023. Rolling with a “Take Your Future by Storm” campaign, Simpson’s brightly branded red and gold bus has been a visible presence in greater Des Moines since last fall.
On Tuesday March 28, 2023, Simpson College was honored to present an evening with Anthony Ray Hinton.
Anthony Ray Hinton was the 152nd person exonerated from death row since 1983. One of the longest serving death row prisoners in Alabama history and among the longest serving condemned prisoners to be freed after presenting evidence of innocence. Hinton wrote about his experiences, in the New York Times Bestseller The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life, Freedom, and Justice. Today he works as a Community Educator at the Equal Justice Initiative, tirelessly and powerfully advocating for the abolition of the death penalty.
On Wednesday, February 1, Simpson kicked-off black history month, honoring George Washington Carver, an American agricultural scientist and inventor. The College hosted several events across campus and the Indianola community, including a guided tour around town, a presentation on Carver in Iowa, and a performance showcasing Carver’s travels from Civil War-era Missouri to the halls of Congress.
Over 100 students showcased their work at Simpson’s annual Research and Creativity Symposium on April 20. Students across all disciplines exhibited projects through papers, performances, posters and panel discussions.
Dr. Chris Jones, a research engineer with IIHRHydroscience and Engineering at the University of Iowa. Dr. Jones presented “This Land is Their Land: Iowa Agriculture and the Struggle for Clean Water,” which focused on the evolution of Iowa’s farming systems since European settlement and the consequences for water and the rest of the environment.
Simpson College’s prolific Speech & Debate team is once again national debate champions.
The Storm posted the top Debate Sweepstakes score at the 62-team Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament held March 15-18 at West Chester University in Pennsylvania. Simpson took third place in the overall Speech & Debate Sweepstakes. Simpson’s impressive performance included two individual national titles and four national runners-up.
Alyssa Beckwith ’24 received National Champion Speaker honors in Public
Forum Debate while Sydni Powell ’26 was the Tournament Champion in Student Congress.
Varsity national runners-up included Mo Marks ‘22 for Extemporaneous Speaking and the duo of Ryan Corcoran ‘25 and Abby Fry ‘25 for Open Public Forum Debate. Elsewhere, teammates Zach Harnden ‘26 and Maddux Stout ‘25 placed second in Junior Varsity Public Form Debate, while Gracie Crow ‘26 and Maggie Fitzpatrick ‘25 captured second place in Junior Varsity Parliamentary Debate.
On April 5, students, staff and faculty teamed up and showed out to participate in the long-standing tradition of Campus Day. Participants braced the cold to beautify the Simpson campus and volunteer at different locations across the Indianola community.
Republican political media consultant Mike Murphy delivered the 12th Annual Culver Lecture at Simpson College on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.
Mike Murphy is one of the Republican Party's most successful political media consultants, having handled strategy and advertising for more than 26 successful gubernatorial and Senatorial campaigns, including 12 wins in "blue" states that have consistently voted Democratic in Presidential elections. He served as a top campaign advisor to John McCain, Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger, along with dozens of other GOP Senators, Members of Congress, and Governors, including former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad.
Murphy is currently co-director of the University of Southern California's Center for the Political Future and serves on the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and the University of Chicago Institute of Politics boards. Murphy also works as a writer and producer in the entertainment industry with projects at HBO, CBS and 20th Century Fox Studios and co-hosts the popular podcast Hacks on Tap with Democratic political consultants Robert Gibbs and David Axelrod, who delivered the Fifth Annual Culver Lecture at Simpson College in 2015.
Simpson College has earned designation as a Voter-Friendly Campus, one of 258 campuses in 38 states and the District of Columbia by Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project and NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. The initiative recognizes institutions that have planned and implemented practices that encourage their students to register and vote in the 2022 elections and in coming years.
The mission of the 2023-2024 Voter Friendly Campus designation is to bolster colleges and universities’ efforts to help students overcome barriers to participating in the political process – every year, not just during years featuring federal elections. Simpson College was evaluated based on a written plan for registering, educating, and turning out student voters in 2022, how it facilitated voter engagement, as well as a final analysis of those efforts.
“Simpson College’s student-led civic engagement initiatives, supported by the Andrew Goodman Foundation’s Vote Everywhere program, reach a broad cross-section of our student population with essential nonpartisan information on voting and political participation,” said Seth Andersen, Director of the John C. Culver Public Policy Center at Simpson College. “We are proud to have some of the highest rates of student voter registration and turnout in the nation, with our student team working equally hard during Midterm elections and oddnumbered years to maintain a high level of student engagement in the democratic process.”
Spencer Moon ‘24 finished 10th at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship last fall to earn AllAmerican status. He is the first All-American Storm runner since Dave Halferty ‘90.
Moon has been keeping — and exceeding — pace with all the greats in program history. He now holds all six Simpson distance records, including three previously held by Danny Bauer ’85
“It means a lot to be the first All-American since Danny set all the school records that I have been chasing and breaking,” said Moon. “I have so much respect for Danny and the team then, and to be compared in any way to that team is an honor in itself.”
This was Moon’s second straight appearance at nationals, running a 25:12.0 for the 8k race —achieving the second-highest placing at the NCAA Division III Championship in school history. This spring, Moon eclipsed Bauer’s nearly four-decade-old track and field record in the outdoor 10,000 meters by almost 25 seconds.
Moon, an accounting and business management major from Lake City, Iowa, has earned multiple All-Academic accolades — including twotime selection to the All-A-R-C Academic Team.
Former All-Conference volleyball honoree Marissa Salber ’22 has been awarded a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship for her academic and athletic achievements. The NCAA awards up to only 126 postgraduate scholarships annually across all divisions. Salber plans to attend the University of Nebraska College of Law next fall.
"Simpson helped me grow into an extremely well-rounded individual and law school applicant," said Salber. "While continuing my passion for volleyball, I was still able to challenge myself academically and become very involved in the community.”
Salber graduated summa cum laude in December 2022 with a bachelor's degree in business management and was a four-year member of the Storm women's volleyball team. She plans to attend the University of Nebraska College of Law next fall.
In its first competitive season at Simpson, men’s gymnastics advanced three gymnasts to the NCAA National Championship meet. Sterling Pariza ‘26 and Michelangelo Villani ‘26 qualified as all-around individuals, and Alex Catchpole ‘26 competed on the parallel bars. All three competed in the qualifying round.
“Our young athletes had a good experience this year,” said Colin Payne, head men’s gymnastics coach. “And we have another big recruiting class coming in next year. We should be better next year with that added depth.”
Jenna Joseph ’26 highlighted the debut of the women’s wrestling program by reaching the National Collegiate Wrestling Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She finished her first season with a 28-10 overall record while notching 13 pins and seven technical falls, as the Storm posted a 5-5 mark in its inaugural season.
Joseph says the invaluable experience gained at the national meet will no doubt help her in coming campaigns.
“It helped show me the potential I have for my next few years here and what this team can accomplish,” said Joseph. “It also feels good to know that I can be a role model for all the incoming freshmen and other team members. Nothing is truly impossible if you set your mind to it.”
Cassie “Cash” Nash ’23 is her name, scoring and stealing are her game. No one can stop her, but she stops everyone. Nash’s dazzling dominance in two sports this year earned her A-R-C Offensive MVP and Defensive Player-of-the-Year honors in soccer and basketball, respectively.
In doing so, her stats were stunning. On the soccer pitch, Nash was tops in the conference and sixth in the nation with 24 goals in 19 games — including a five-goal outburst in a 5-3 win at Luther. On the hardcourt, she was a playmaking machine — dishing out a league-leading 77 assists (5.5 APG) and 60 steals (4.3 SPG) in 16 conference games. In the process, she became Simpson’s all-time steals leader with 285.
“When she gets that turnover, not too many are going to catch her,” said Brian Niemuth, women’s head basketball coach. “And if there’s somebody in between her and the basket, she always does a great job of finding her teammates. To score as many points as she does while leading us in assists and steals is incredible.”
Nash’s head soccer coach, Jeremy Reinert, is in awe of her twosport talents.
“I’ve never seen anyone in soccer or basketball take over games like she does,” he said. “To do that against the quality of opponents we face — that’s special.”
While basketball is her first love, Nash concedes that “I think I’m a better soccer player, just because it comes more naturally to me.”
“I’ve never seen anyone in soccer or basketball take over games like [Nash] does. To do that against the quality of opponents we face — that’s special."
- JEREMY REINERT, HEAD SOCCER COACH
Being a two-sport college athlete wasn’t Nash’s original game plan. In fact, she didn’t play soccer her first year at Simpson. But she had a change of heart watching soccer games from the sidelines.
“When I actually saw the team play, I realized that I missed it (soccer),” said Nash. “I didn’t want to not play and regret it.”
So, as a sophomore, Nash joined the soccer team. After playing just seven games in the 2020 COVID-shortened season, she hit her stride in the 2021 campaign with 13 goals to co-lead the A-R-C. In 2022, she kicked her game into a higher gear.
“I think the game has really slowed down for her visually,” said Reinert. “She’s always been able to generate lots of scoring chances. But halfway through the season, she was cleaner and more particular about how she finishes, and that’s when her shooting percentage doubled.”
Nash has made her share of adjustments on the basketball court, as well, while playing three different positions. This year, she moved to point guard.
“We went through some learning early in the season,” said Niemuth. “She understands her role now, so next season she won’t have to think as much and just let her athletic ability take over, which could be kind of scary.”
It’s especially scary when you consider all that she achieved while playing most of the season with a torn meniscus. But while her painproof perseverance and elite talent have resulted in numerous accolades and honors in both soccer and basketball, Nash is a harsh self critic.
“Confidence has always been something I have struggled with,” said Nash. “Coach Niemuth is always telling me, ‘You’re the one person that doesn’t believe in yourself.’ His constant reassurance has helped me come a long way, especially since high school.”
Coach Reinert has sought to do the same with her, repeatedly reminding Nash that “we trust her.”
“She’s super selfless and humble,” adds Reinert. “She doesn’t even view herself as our best player. Part of my job is to help her understand she’s really good.”
“Cash is one of the best athletes I’ve coached in all my years,” said Niemuth. “With everything she’s accomplished, she could be a little arrogant — but there’s no arrogance in her at all. She’s just a very caring person who is always there for her teammates.”
Nash plans to take advantage of her COVID-extended eligibility to return for final seasons of soccer and basketball. Most of all, she’s excited for the chance to be back on campus doing what she loves with all the people who have made her time at Simpson so special.
“The community feel and how much everyone here cares about each other is going to be what stays with me,” said Nash. “Being a name at Simpson instead of just being a number in the classroom at a bigger school is another reason why I came here.”
In an effort to be better stewards of our resources, the Class Notes portion of Touring the Years is published electronically. We invite you to visit simpson.edu/classnotes to view the accomplishments of our alumni.
If you wish to receive a printed copy of Class Notes, please contact andy.english@simpson.edu.
To submit accomplishments and updates to be included in future editions, visit simpson.edu/alumni/update.
Grace Carpenter Green-Dickerson ’41, December 29, 2022, Des Moines, Iowa.
Mildred Brown Walter ’50, December 6, 2022, Lenox, Iowa.
Cecil Abarr ’51, October 22, 2022, Savannah, Georgia.
William Peterson ’51, March 23, 2023, Savannah, Georgia.
Dale Ferguson ’52, March 10, 2023, Humboldt, Iowa.
Doris Buechler Finck ’52, January 28, 2023, Robins, Iowa.
Donald Neumann ’52, November 24, 2022, Des Moines, Iowa.
Evelyn Camp ’53, October 30, 2022, Indianola, Iowa.
Roselea Penniston Richards ’53, November 30, 2022, San Francisco, California.
Ross Williams ’53, December 10, 2022, Briarcliff, Missouri.
Nancy Sisam Ratcliff ’54, November 2, 2022, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Geraldine Moore Robinson ’54, October 30, 2022, Atlantic, Iowa.
A. Roger Witke ’54, February 19, 2023, Des Moines, Iowa.
Earl Boltinghouse ’55, January 29, 2023, Osage Beach, Missouri.
Carol Shearer Shaw ’56, December 17, 2022, Indianola, Iowa.
Dorothy Newman Burnett ’57, January 13, 2023, Atlantic, Iowa.
Thomas Cambridge ’57, March 24, 2023, Amarillo, Texas.
Donald Bartholomew ’58, December 6, 2022, Carlisle, Iowa.
Franklin Wagner ’58, July 30, 2022, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Daniel Cole ’59, September 14, 2021, Houston, Texas.
Carl Tidgren ’59, November 14, 2022, Camdenton, Missouri.
Robert Lewis ’60, February 21, 2023, Scottsdale, Arizona.
Janet Kentfield Stafford ’60, April 15, 2022, Des Moines, Iowa.
Janice Dolmage Wilcox ’60, January 18, 2021, Wever, Iowa.
Larry Willits ’60, March 15, 2023, Marshalltown, Iowa
Marilyn Middleswart McMullin ’61, Hacienda Heights, California.
Leola Eddy Wright ’61, January 10, 2023, Ackley, Iowa.
Caroll Snider ’62, July 12, 2022, Albion, Iowa.
Max Dugger ’63, October 28, 2022, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Denis Kale ’64, April 30, 2022, Osceola, Iowa.
Patricia Matthew Wallman ’64, January 11, 2023, Cortland, Nebraska.
Sandra Haarvig Blinn ’65, December 6, 2022, Bothell, Washington.
Lynn Fox ’66, December 29, 2022, Canton, Missouri.
Danny Hosfield ’66, June 30, 2022, Overland Park, Kansas.
Fred Jones ’66, January 8, 2023, Indianola, Iowa.
Marcia Kinney Tillson ’66, October 22, 2022, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Sandra Ribble Harsh ’68, December 25, 2020, Urbandale, Iowa.
Craig Knouf ’68, December 24, 2021, Worthington, Ohio.
Karen Jackson Remington ’68, August 17, 2021, Shawnee, Kansas.
Mary Eckhoff Barakat ’69, November 5, 2022, Boulder, Colorado.
Marcia Follmann Frese ’69, January 19, 2023, Bridgewater, Iowa.
Terry Hinman ’69, June 4, 2022, Coralville, Iowa.
Ann Eighmey Clausen ’70, July 10, 2020, Mason City, Iowa.
Richard Bower ’71, November 2, 2022, Argyle, Texas.
Verle Guthrie ’71, February 22, 2023, Englewood, Colorado.
Steven Ritenour ’71, April 3, 2021, Preston, Iowa.
Madalyn Clarke Vander Linden ’72, March 18, 2023, Indianola, Iowa.
Nancy Violette Hooton ’73, November 13, 2022, Dyersville, Iowa.
Douglas Shafer ’73, December 6, 2021, Tracy, Iowa.
William Smith ’73, August 28, 2021, Lorimor, Iowa.
Joseph Funaro ’74, December 17, 2016, Fair Oaks, California.
Dennis Lederer ’74, March 16, 2023, Algonquin, Illinois.
Sheri Exline Ziegler ’75, March 29, 2020, Ottumwa, Iowa.
Cheryl Lee Koch ’76, March 12, 2023, Indianola, Iowa.
Edward Langgaard ’76, February 23, 2022, Guthrie Center, Iowa.
John Hines ’80, December 27, 2022, Urbandale, Iowa.
Brenda Malone Mateer ’83, June 24, 2021, Norwalk, Iowa.
Shirley Miller ’83, November 23, 2021, Seattle, Washington.
Kendra Peterson Woertendyke ’84, August 31, 2021, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Kelli Cranston Rogers ’86, February 10, 2021, Eldora, Iowa.
Beverly Looney Mackey ’87, May 28, 2022, Diagonal, Iowa.
Timothy Mundell ’87, October 2, 2019, Winterset, Iowa.
Montgomery Shawn Trainer ’87, April 27, 2020, Des Moines, Iowa.
Darwin Green ’89, June 10, 2021, Grand River, Iowa.
Beverly Major Miller ’89, August 12, 2022, Indianola, Iowa.
Scott Krauth ’91, July 4, 2020, Grimes, Iowa.
Kevin Jackson ’92, May 1, 2021, Johnston, Iowa.
Chad Ahlers ’94, September 2, 2021, Algona, Iowa.
Matt Baumann ’94, October 16, 2021, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Mary Nielsen ’95, October 5, 2022, Urbandale, Iowa.
Jon Bauer ’01, January 21, 2022, Marshalltown, Iowa.
Sarah Miller Bryan ’04, January 28, 2023, Perry, Iowa.
Brian Chambers ’12, October 17, 2022, Eddyville, Iowa.
Tyler West ’18, December 22, 2022, Pueblo, Colorado.
Shelby McCasland ’22, December 23, 2022, Saint Charles, Iowa.
Max Blair, September 2, 2022, New Virginia, Iowa.
Tom Chaney, November 26, 2022, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Donald Dittmer, January 14, 2023, Concordia, Missouri.
Fred Jones ’66, January 8, 2023, Indianola, Iowa.
Richard Krumme, October 25, 2022, Prole, Iowa.
Kay Lebeda, September 29, 2022, Urbandale, Iowa.
Barbara Traster, February 23, 2023, Parkville, Missouri.
Dr. John Hines ’80 earned an MBA from the University of Iowa and pursued his lifelong dream of a career in medicine, graduating from Des Moines University with a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. He served as a gastroenterologist at the Iowa Clinic for 15 years, where he also served on their Board of Directors. Hines was elected to the Simpson Board of Trustees in 2019 and served on the College Advancement Committee. Hines loved playing basketball while at Simpson and was inducted into the Simpson Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990.
“John’s selfless commitment to serving others was truly inspirational,” said President Marsha Kelliher. “Simpson College is grateful for his devotion to the mission of the College and the meaningful ways in which he touched the lives of so many in our community.”
January 8, 2023
Dr. Fred Jones ’66 came to Simpson in 1962 as a freshman with his twin brother, Floyd, and graduated with the class of 1966. While a student at Simpson, Jones was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, played football and was a member of the track team. After graduating from Simpson, he pursued a master’s degree in Sociology at the University of Iowa and completed his Ph.D. in the Sociology of Deviant Behavior Program at Mississippi State University.
In 1970, Jones joined the Simpson College faculty, where he marked a 50-year career as a criminologist and was vital in establishing the undergraduate and graduate criminal justice programs at Simpson College. Twice honored with Simpson’s Distinguished Teaching Award, he also received the Alumni Association Alumni Achievement and Loyalty Awards, Double S Award and the Dick Buxton Award for his achievements and service to Simpson College and the surrounding community. He was a valued faculty member and mentor to many students, faculty and staff.
February 19, 2023
Originally from Council Bluffs, Iowa, Roger Witke attended Simpson where he met the love of his life, Darlene Stout ’54. Following graduation from Simpson, Witke served in Counterintelligence for the U.S. Army in Korea from 1954-1956. After his military service, Witke earned his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and practiced law for 45 years. He served on the Simpson College Board of Trustees from 1983-1995. During his time on the Board, he served on the following committees: Student Affairs, Strategic Planning, Executive Committee, and College Advancement. He was elected as an Honorary Life Trustee in 1996.
“Roger’s service to country, remarkable law career and his many important contributions on Simpson’s Board of Trustees speak to his life-long desire to serve the world’s greater good,” said President Kelliher. “He leaves an impressive legacy that we can all admire.”
September 29, 2022
Originally from Cedar Falls, Lebeda earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Marywood College in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Lebeda worked for Simpson College from 1975 until her retirement in 2011. She held various positions at Simpson with the majority of her time spent as the director of Alumni Relations.
“Over the years Kay came to know many of our alumni. She was a loyal friend and colleague whose institutional knowledge served both her and the college well throughout her career” said Bob Lane ’81, who worked closely with her through the years.
Lebeda had a true gift for connecting with people and her relationships with students and alumni were very important to her.
Simpson College fulfilled the American dreams of the late Inja Pak Lew ’60. Inja’s family is expressing its profound gratitude by establishing the Inja Pak Lew Memorial Scholarship. The generous gift will help make it possible for future first-generation and international students to realize their educational aspirations at Simpson.
The family says the scholarship is the perfect way to honor Inja’s transformational Simpson experience.
“It might sound like an exaggeration, but without Simpson College, my siblings and I might not be here today,” said Pamila Lew, Inja’s daughter. “My mother was an ambitious young woman who dreamed of leaving South Korea to pursue an American education. Simpson answered the call–and the rest, as they say, is history.”
Although today South Korea is known for its advanced technology and award-winning musicians, television shows and movies, the country was devastated shortly after the war ended in 1953. Bright and hardworking, Inja’s desire to study in the United States was constrained by the reality of her family’s limited finances.
With nothing to lose, Inja, in an act of faith, sent letters to several American colleges explaining her plight. Simpson College was the only one to answer, offering her admission and a full scholarship.
At Simpson, Inja immersed herself in liberal arts education. She passed on the lessons she learned to her children, creating a foundation that would serve them well: an emphasis on the importance of good grammar, a wide vocabulary, and, most importantly, critical thinking.
Inja and her husband of 57 years, Dr. Sanghwan Lew, never took for granted the doors that Simpson helped open for her and their children. Now the family can take heart knowing that Inja’s inspiring legacy will live on forever at the College.
OCTOBER 13-15
SIMPSON.EDU/HOMECOMING
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